“Composer George Frideric Handel was bankrupt when in 1741 a group of Dublin charities offered him a commission to write a musical work. It was for a benefit performance to raise funds to free men from a debtors’ prison. He accepted that commission and gave himself tirelessly to work on it.

“In just 24 days, Handel composed the well-known masterpiece Messiah, which contains “The Hallelujah Chorus.” During that time, he never left his home and often went without eating. At one point, a servant found him weeping over his evolving score. Recounting his experience, Handel wrote, “Whether I was in my body or out of my body as I wrote it I know not. God knows.” Afterward he also said, “I did think I did see all heaven before me and the great God Himself.”

I was so blessed by this that I wanted to share it. It’s an excerpt from the December 20th devotional in “Our Daily Bread,” a quarterly devotional published by rbc Ministries . This particular entry was written by Vernon Grounds. I hope it blesses you, too.

May you all be overwhelmed by the magnificence of God’s great Gift to us, His Son, Jesus Christ, Emanuel, God with us!